Opening Day is over. And what a day it was. (If you want to check out some great shots of the afternoon from our photographer, Joy R. Absalon, click here).
It had everything, even Zach Britton pitching against the Toronto Blue Jays in a tied game – something we didn’t see in Toronto last October.
The Yards were rocking in the 11th inning as Mark Trumbo’s game-winning homer soared out of the park. The fans at Connolly’s were shaking the rafters.
I’m assuming you’ve settled down a little bit, at least enough to answer a simple question.
Was it just one win?
Was it just one game in a season of 162? Will we forget it even happened by June?
Or did it have more meaning? Does it plant a seed for the season? Does it show this team, especially its younger players, that it can win games like this in front of huge crowds?
Or, like manager Buck Showalter likes to say, is the only momentum you have in baseball the next game’s starting pitcher?
By the way, I don’t think he truly believes that. But it’s a good line.
I addressed this topic a little bit in my piece Monday night.
But now I want your opinion. It’s a simple question. But maybe it has a complex answer. Maybe not.
I’ll pour the beer; you provide the philosophy.
Tap-In Question: Was Monday’s walkoff win just one game in 162? Or could it be something more?
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While it's nice to start off the season on a positive note, you know that as a team the O's will move on to the next game like this one never happened. The O's have 18 more games against the Blue Jays, and they all could go either way. Lets just hope Gausman builds on this performance, and also that maybe MLB will finally do something about the horrible umpiring.
I think I need to cash in one of my drink chips on a cold Natty Boh this morning, after-all they say the best way to cure a hangover is to drink, am I right?
Cashed in chip it is. Yeah, you'd think one game is one game. But I do believe in tone setting too, if not momentum. We'll see.
I get tone setting, but I don't hold too much stock in it. O's have won, what, 7 home openers in a row? That doesn't seem to bear any relationship to how they finish the season. It's a long season, and all too soon Opening Day will be just a distant memory. Last year the O's walked off on Opening day, won 7 in a row, but ultimately barely eeked into the playoffs. Point being, it's a long season so BuckleUp.
One game, sure. But to have a revenge game end like that on opening day? That's what does it. The entire team had been waiting for 6 months to get that bad taste out of their mouths and they did in epic fashion. It's really how they won and played that game that I think will turn this into something more. Manny's crazy defensive play, Davis's great picks, Trumbo's walk off, Mancini getting a hit, getting the bench guys in the game to contribute, 4 out of our first 5 hits were doubles, Castillo's pop fly that was dropped (which will be a great lesson to everyone. Run it out!) Gausman looked pretty good but not great... and he still only gave up one run against a great lineup. I think we addressed our weaknesses this off season and this is a great starting point for a hopefully great season.
Trumbo kind of said the same thing last night. It's the way they won. Good pitching, good defense, a couple timely hits against a really good team. I won't say it was a complete game. There were some flaws. But certainly encouraging if they play like that for a large part of the year.
I think it is actually a little of both. It is just one win out of 162 games, but as has been mentioned, it is definitely a shot in the arm to this team. I said yesterday I am getting way too worked up for game 1 of 162 but it was opening day. These are the types of games that the O's won back in 2012 then not so much the following season. A hard fought extra inning 1 run game against a tough divisional rival is something for this team to build on which can lead to future success. Gausman was strong, aside from the 5th but kept the team in the game and turned it over to the dominant bullpen (without using O'Day I might add). Manny was what we have come to expect, Davis (who should have received a Gold Glove yesterday) again showed why he is important. The extra base hits, Mancini with a pinch hit. I also think Rickard had a nice at bat that could have ended better minus a nice snag by Bautista. I also think Castillo is going to pay dividends for our pitchers. So yes it was 1 out of 162 but a BIG 1 against a tough opponent and also one to build on moving forward just like in 2012.
I think the Mancini thing is worth bringing up, too. The kid has never had to be a pinch-hitter. That's gonna be a big chunk of his role this year if he sticks with this team. So to get a clean single in a tough spot in his first pinch-hit opportunity of the year certainly can't hurt.
That would be SHOT in the arm to this team. Sorry for the typo.
I fixed it for you. And, just so you know, that is such an easy typo. I do it all the time, and luckily I've caught it so far. I'm sure I'll slip up at some point.
It's classic Orioles baseball under Buck. Get a scrappy (but short) performance from the starter, dominant bullpen, great infield D, and then hit a walk-off and win. It was a great win but if they lose tomorrow they are basically in the same place they started. April is HUGE for the O's considering how many AL East opponents they have to play
True. All AL East teams besides the Reds of all clubs.
Always fun to win opening day, but in the end, it's just one game in a long season. One down!
161 more. My guess is they won't win them all. At least not all on walkoffs.
Yes Monday's game was just one win in 162 games. But then again, it COULD prove to be something more. Does this straighten things out ?
Seriously, I'd much, MUCH rather win a game like this than to lose it. Like the Carnie in the N.Y. Knights locker room once stated, "Losing. ... Losing is a disease ... as contagious as the Bubonic plague". And after all, who wants that?
Yeah. It would make my job much harder if the team contracted the plague. Less driving, though
You kidding? I already paid in full for World Series tickets and booked rooms in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and St Louis in October (wasn't sure who would rep NL) I can pay for all of this because I just sent my bank info to this Nigerian Prince whose gonna send me 10 million dollars. What a day huh?!
Yeah, its just one game, but losing after the pageantry and good spirits of Opening Day is a total buzzkill, and the eerie similarities between yesterday and that game in October when you know who didn't let you know who pitch made it all the more satisfying. Well, I'm off put a 2017 Aston Martin on my credit card while I way for this African check to hit my account. Got a line on a sweet beach house in some tropical resort called Tempe too. See you poor people in the funny papers!
While you're at it, I know a reputable baseball site that could use a few hundred K in advertising dollars.
After reading Debbie Downer aka Steve Cockey's prediction yesterday? Not happening. We only finance shameless homer-ism here.
That's fair, Richie. Though I did make Manny the AL MVP. Doesn't that count for something?
After living through 0-21 in '88 I always find it good to get the opening day win under your belt!
Never mention '88 in these parts again.
Pardon Boog. He gets maudlin and angry the longer he imbibes in this place (maungry?).
1988. Ugh. That season started on a beautiful day that quickly turned ugly as Mike Boddicker and the Os were shellacked 12-0 by the Brewers.
Everyone wanted what Trumbo provided, but if the game had ended on a different note, who would have flinched? Long way of saying that we all love the warm fuzzies of vicarious victories a lot more than the vicarious agony of defeat, but it's just one game with 161 to go. But the game had it all. Awesome highlight reel stuff.
Pretty solid way to sum it up. Drink chip.